Scruffy 1 oz Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coin

Same Gold, Lower Price, More Wear

The Scruffy 1 oz Canadian Gold Maple Leaf delivers the same gold as a pristine Maple at a noticeably lower price. Every coin still holds a full troy ounce of .9999 fine gold, struck by the Royal Canadian Mint and carrying a $50 CAD face value. “Scruffy” describes the coin’s surface, not its metal content, and since melt value follows the metal rather than the finish, that cosmetic discount comes at no cost to the gold you’re actually buying.

Four Nines From the Start

The Royal Canadian Mint introduced the Gold Maple Leaf in 1979 as the first bullion coin struck to a 99.99% purity standard, a bar every major mint has had to match since. The reverse has carried the same single sugar maple leaf the whole time, flanked by 9999 purity marks. The obverse carries whichever Queen Elizabeth II portrait was current when your coin was struck: Arnold Machin’s original effigy on coins from 1979 to 1989, Dora de Pedery-Hunt’s from 1990 to 2003, or Susanna Blunt’s from 2004 onward. The reverse never changed, only the portrait on the front did.

What “Scruffy” Actually Means

Expect scattered scuffs, hairlines, rim nicks, or soft toning across either face, the kind of handling marks a soft 24-karat coin picks up after passing through enough hands. Pure gold is a soft metal, and Maples that have moved through the market show it more readily than harder alloyed coins do. What you won’t see is a change to the weight or the purity stamped on the coin: those stay fixed no matter how the surface looks. Wear is cosmetic here, not a cut to the gold content.

Full Weight, Full Purity, Lower Price

What we guarantee is the metal, not the finish. Every coin weighs a full troy ounce and assays at .9999 fine gold, carries a $50 CAD face value backed by the Canadian government, regardless of which era’s portrait is on the front or how scuffed the surface looks. Weight and purity hold, whatever the coin’s cosmetic grade.

Scruffy 1 oz Gold Maple Leaf Specifications

Every coin holds one troy ounce of .9999 fine gold, 30 mm across, with a $50 CAD face value struck into the design. One troy ounce, always .9999, regardless of surface condition. Full current specs are on the Specifications tab above.

Scruffy 1 oz Gold Maple Leaf FAQ

What does “scruffy” mean for this coin?

It means scuffs, hairlines, rim nicks, or light toning picked up from handling, not a change to the gold itself. Scruffy describes the surface, never the metal.

Will I know which portrait is on my coin before it ships?

No. Year and portrait era are our choice based on inventory, and could be any of the three Queen Elizabeth II effigies struck between 1979 and 2023. Portrait follows the year, not a choice you make.

Does this coin have a face value?

Yes, every Gold Maple Leaf carries a $50 CAD face value backed by the Canadian government, though the gold inside is worth far more than that number stamped on the coin. Face value is $50 CAD, not what the coin is worth.

Why is this cheaper than a Brilliant Uncirculated Maple Leaf?

Because you’re buying the metal without paying for cosmetic condition. A scuffed coin contains exactly as much gold as a pristine one, so the discount reflects appearance only. The discount is cosmetic, the gold content isn’t.

Is the Scruffy Gold Maple Leaf IRA eligible?

Check with your custodian before buying for an IRA. The coin’s .9999 purity clears the IRS’s fineness floor, but IRA custodians can have their own rules about accepting coins in less than pristine condition, separate from the purity question. Purity clears the floor, custodian acceptance is a separate question.

Want a pristine example instead? Browse our full Canadian Gold Coins selection, including Brilliant Uncirculated Maple Leafs.

Ready to trade cosmetic flaws for extra ounces per dollar? Add the Scruffy 1 oz Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coin to your cart.